GP, runner, mother, writer

All posts tagged: marathon training

I’d been training in freezing temperatures and cold winds when I was suddenly plunged into the heat of the Virgin London Marathon in 2013. As a relatively new runner and taking on my first marathon, I was anxious about running the distance anyway and this quadrupled when I realised how warm it was going to be. How much should I drink? What speed should I go? Would I even make it round now? So many extra things to think and worry about. I survived without incident and I’ve since run marathons in soaring temps in Mallorca and Boston and along the way I’ve picked up lots of tips for running in the heat.

UPDATED INTERVIEW. With the London Marathon just around the corner I know that this Active Women Interview is going to hit the mark for those of you thinking that maybe one day you’d like to run but don’t really think you can. I want to introduce Alex Barnes who only twelve months ago could barely run for 30 seconds. She is about to line up at the start in London and during her running journey, she’s discovered a whole lot more than how to run, along the way.

So, Sunday is the day! I’ll be lining up on the start line at Old Trafford and only 26.2 miles will be between me and the finish. If I’m honest, I’m in complete denial. I think possibly that’s a good survival tactic, there’s no point expending energy worrying about it.

Well, there have certainly be some challenges thrown at all of us when it comes to getting out and keeping active over the last few weeks haven’t there?! My first update was five weeks ago. Since then, the miles have cranked up and so has the wind speed, the weather warnings, germ level and the general business of my life!

I’ve been writing so many blogs on why and how you should all be active so I felt it was time for a little update on my own efforts! As many of you know, I love a spring marathon. I really find that it helps to keep me going out running through the winter when quite frankly, I find it much easier to just run a hot bath.

Marathon number six is only five weeks away for me now and it will be swiftly followed by number seven, five weeks after that. What I’ve learnt from my past marathons and current training is that me running a marathon is NOT just about me. Yes, I’m the one who has to put one foot in front of the other but this wouldn’t be possible without an enormous number of other people. It really is a team event. Here are some of the members of my team and how they’re helping me. I really wanted to give them a shout out and thank them because without them I wouldn’t be able to do this.

All of a sudden I find myself with two spring marathons in my diary this year. How did that happen? Well, I just couldn’t turn either one of them down, they’re both too good to miss. I mean, when you’re invited to run the Boston Marathon with Kathrine Switzer on her 50th anniversary race you simply don’t say no do you?! There’s quite literally a long road ahead but my training plan is well underway and is going well so far. I anticipated giving my absolute all in Boston and then not running another marathon until the autumn at the earliest….